Branch retinal vein thrombosis and visual loss probably associated with pegylated interferon therapy of chronic hepatitis C

Ophthalmological complications with interferon therapy are usually mild and reversible, not requiring the withdrawal of the treatment. We report a case of a patient who had visual loss probably associated with interferon therapy. Chronic hepatitis C virus infection （genotype la） was diagnosed in a 33-year old asymptomatic man. His past medical history was unremarkable and previous routine ophthalmologic check-up was normal. Pegylated interferon alpha and ribavirin were started. Three weeks later he reported painless reduction of vision. Ophthalmologic examination showed extensive intraretinal hemorrhages and cottonwool spots, associated with inferior branch retinal vein thrombosis. Antiviral therapy was immediately discontinued, but one year later he persists with severely decreased visual acuity. This case illustrates the possibility of unpredictable and severe complications during pegylated interferon therapy.

有干扰素治疗的眼科的复杂并发症通常温和、可逆，不要求治疗的退却。我们报导把视觉损失可能与干扰素治疗联系了的一个病人的一个案例。长期的丙肝病毒感染(遗传型 1a ) 在一个 33 年的老无征状的人被诊断。他的过去的病历是不显蓍的，以前的平淡的眼科学检查是正常的。Pegylated 干扰素高山哈并且 ribavirin 被开始。三个星期以后，他报导了视觉的无痛苦的减小。眼科学检查显示出广泛的视网膜内出血和棉花羊毛点，与劣等的分支 retinal 静脉血栓联系了。抗病毒的治疗立即被中止，但是一年以后，他坚持严重地减少的视敏度。这个案例在 pegylated 干扰素治疗期间说明无法预言、严重的复杂并发症的可能性。